June 20, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Date: June 7, 2006 for the Meeting of June 12, 2006 Applicant: John & Laurie Hamerly Location: 9429 Jane Road North Requested Action: Zoning Variances to Permit Construction of Home Addition/Garage Land Use Plan Guiding: SRD Existing Zoning: R-1 (Shoreland Overlay) Site history and Existing Conditions: The site history of this parcel is extensive and somewhat unclear. Washington County records indicate that the current house was constructed in 1989. It appears from City records that there was at least one earlier house on this site. City records also reveal several prior variances and Shoreland Permits approved for the site involving remodeling and septic reconstructions. Washington County records indicate that the existing house is 2,100 square feet in area, and the parcel area is .55 acres (23,958 square feet). Discussion and Analysis: The applicants propose to raze an existing 678 square foot detached garage located 2.5 feet from the 30' Street property line, and replace it with new 910 square foot attached garage and a 198 square foot hall/laundry room between the new garage and the existing house. The new garage will still be only 2 feet from the front property line, but side -loaded rather than designed to require backing on to the public street - as is the case with the existing garage. With an 18 foot garage door opening, this will be a two car garage as is the existing detached garage to be removed. While constructing a garage a mere 2 feet from the street right-of-way line (actually 28 feet from the Jane Road driving surface) is not ideal, few options appear to exist for a new garage location due to the extreme set back of the house from the OHW and the location of the septic system north of the house.. There is no question, however, that the new garage orientation will improve safety for both the applicants and motorists on Jane Road by elimination of the backing onto the roadway now required from the detached garage. The proposed garage addition will also continue (and slightly increase) the deficient side yard set back to the south. The existing detached garage is located approximately 6 feet from the south property line, while the proposed garage addition to the house will, at one point only, be 4.3 feet form the south property line. The published Notice referred also to variances for lot area and lot width, which are not required since the principal structure already exists. The applicants have submitted a brief narrative addressing the "hardship" they perceive (and propose to mitigate with the new garage). To some degree the issues they raise regarding the relationship of the present garage to the present road elevation go to a unique physical